Make Your Own Multi-purpose Cleaner

I have a Healthier Cleaning Product Cheat Sheet for times when you just need to buy something safer or don’t have it in you to make your own toilet scrubber. I totally get it. I am one of those people. I consistently use products from Better Life (which is now available in Target and so easy to get) and sometimes Seventh Generation to make things a bit easier on me….

But one thing I have been consistently doing to save money on expensive household cleaning is making my own multipurpose spray. It smells kind of like a spa and doesn’t linger or assault your senses. It gets the job done too which is important. I test it out on surfaces and items destroyed by my two sons who have a knack for making a mess out of absolutely nothing. I make one batch and it lasts me for several months of heavy use.

But a confession? I really dislike the smell of vinegar. I use it with baking soda to de-clog sinks but I cannot stand the smell of it lingering in my house. So my recipe is lacking vinegar but you can definitely use that if you like!

Supplies You’ll Need:

An empty spray bottle – a re-purposed one works great. I use an empty Better Life spray bottle that I used up.

Tea Tree Oil

Lavender Oil

Water

You can also do this with Lemon or Sweet Orange oil if you get bored with the scent but the lavender soothes us all and I love it.

Tea tree oil has a lot of antiseptic and beneficial properties which make it great for cleaning just about anything. But it can be toxic to pets and kids so err on the side of careful with your dilutions. I make my spray a bit stronger since my kids are now at the age where they know better and I keep it out of reach of them and my dog. If you have crawling babies or pets then I’d reduce the proportions.

My recipe uses 10 drops of tea tree oil per every 2 cups of water. Plus 3-5 drops of lavender oil. If you make more than 2 cups you can increase the ingredients proportionately. Shake and use for countertops, appliances, bathroom surfaces, de-stinking garbage cans, tables, chairs… pretty much any hard surface.

Do you DIY? Share your favorite recipes below!

(Note, because you asked! Essential oil pictured is from Young Living, a brand I trust to be pure and therapeutic grade quality.)

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About SafeMama

Started back in 2007, a new mother on a quest to collect safe product information for her then 1 year old son. Now a mother of two boys, she continues to help parents make sense of the world of child safety.Read on...